| Building Pathways to Success: Strengthening Services to Improve Employment and Immigration Opportunities for International Students in CanadaIn an evolving policy environment, developing fair and accessible immigration
pathways for international students is critical to creating an inclusive society where
they can thrive. Panelists will discuss strategies to enhance services and
infrastructure, improve employment outcomes for international students, and
develop ethical recruitment best practices for Canadian universities and colleges. Toronto Metropolitan University | Conference | 2024-11-20 | Niraula, A. |
| Newcomer-driven placemaking and the arts: Insights from MABELLEArts’s Welcome to the Neighborhood Program in Etobicoke Toronto Metropolitan University | Conference | 2024-10-10 | Kumar, A. |
| Assessing the Impact of the Post Graduate Work Permit Program on the Earnings of International Students: Evidence From Canadian Employer Employee Dynamics DatasetABSTRACT This study examines the impact of Canada's Post‐Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) on the experience premium of former international students using the Canadian Employer‐Employee Dynamics Dataset (CEEDD). The PGWPP allows former international students to work in Canada without restrictions, theoretically equalizing their job prospects with Canadian‐born workers and immigrants arriving directly from abroad. Using employer‐employee fixed effects models, the study found that the PGWPP reduced the experience premium for former international students by 4.6%. Additionally, the policy had unintended negative effects on other immigrant groups. We explore potential explanations for these outcomes and offer policy recommendations. Toronto Metropolitan University | Publication | 2025-03-23 | Rusdi Akbar, Banerjee, R. |
| Between diversity and meritocracy: employer and skilled immigrant perspectives from the Canadian contextPurpose This study aims to empirically investigate and extend the diversity-meritocracy paradox outlined by Konrad et al. (2021) using skilled immigrants in Canada as a case study. Despite their significance in knowledge-based economies, immigrant voices are often marginalized in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) literature and management research. By focusing on skilled immigrants, who embody both diversity and meritocratic principles, this research addresses this gap. Through semi-structured interviews, we examine whether diversity and meritocracy are perceived as contradictory or complementary for skilled immigrants. Our findings not only contribute to theoretical understanding but also offer practical insights into the complexities of diversity and meritocracy in contemporary organizations. Design/methodology/approach This study utilizes qualitative, semi-structured, interviews and focus groups to gather data from both employers and skilled immigrants. Thematic analysis, guided by Braun and Clarke (2006), is employed to analyze the data. Participants include skilled immigrants and human resource (HR) professionals/managers. Data are collected through interviews and focus groups conducted between December 2018 and February 2020 in person and via video-conferencing. Findings This study unveils a discrepancy in perceptions between employers and skilled immigrants on DEI in Canada’s labor market. While employers prioritize meritocracy, emphasizing Canadian qualifications and experience, immigrants feel undervalued, encountering barriers due to cultural differences. Employers focus on past work experience over credentials, using behavioral interviews and proficiency tests for assessment. However, immigrants often perceive the selection process as opaque, and encounter explicit preferences for Canadian education and experience, which they view as discriminatory. Challenges in onboarding, training and workplace culture further exacerbate their experiences. These findings highlight the nuanced dynamics between meritocracy and diversity, underscoring the need for systemic change. Originality/value Despite employers’ claims of valuing diversity, our findings reveal a preference for “Canadian-ness” over immigrants' international expertise, perpetuating systemic barriers. Employers prioritize meritocracy but often conflate it with cultural conformity, hindering immigrant integration. Our analysis underscores the disconnection between organizational rhetoric and practices, urging a reconceptualization of diversity and inclusion policies. To foster truly inclusive workplaces, both surface-level and deep-level diversity must be considered. Policy interventions and enhanced intercultural competence are essential for leveraging the talents of skilled immigrants and promoting equitable employment practices. Toronto Metropolitan University | Publication | 2025-01-22 | Banerjee, R., Tingting Zhang, Aliya Amarshi |
| Introduction to the Special Issue—Canada’s Economic Immigration Policy: Opportunities and Challenges for the Road Ahead Toronto Metropolitan University | Publication | 2023-06-28 | Banerjee, R. |
| Policies, potentials, and pitfalls: The impact of economic admission categories on recent immigrant earnings disparities Toronto Metropolitan University | Publication | 2024-11-19 | Banerjee, R. |
| Second-generation education and earnings across birth cohorts: ethno-racial variations in Canada Toronto Metropolitan University | Publication | 2025-04-22 | Banerjee, R., Jeffrey G Reitz, Feng Hou, Wendell Nii Laryea Adjetey |
| Temporary talent: Wage penalties among highly educated temporary workers in CanadaTemporary employment (TE) arrangements have become increasingly common in Canada among both high- and low-skilled workers. In this study, we examine the prevalence and earnings effects of TE across education levels with a specific focus on highly educated workers. We also examine the earnings effects of TE across the earnings distribution. We find that higher levels of schooling are negatively associated with the probability of TE. However, the earnings discounts for temporary work are significant and increase in magnitude for individuals with higher levels of educational attainment. For highly educated workers at the top end of the earnings distribution, the discount associated with being in a temporary job is large enough to substantially reduce, although not entirely negate, the sizeable earnings premiums associated with higher levels of education. Toronto Metropolitan University | Publication | 2023-01-29 | Banerjee, R., Laura Lam, "Danielle Lamb" |
| Voices of belonging: Integrating immigrant perspectives in workplace inclusion theory Toronto Metropolitan University | Publication | 2025-12-01 | Kathy Sanderson, Irfan Butt, Banerjee, R., Ryan Hron |
| Canada's Long-Standing Openness to Immigration Comes Under Pressure Toronto Metropolitan University | Publication | 2025-06-24 | Banerjee, R., Naomi Alboim, Triandafyllidou, A., Georgina Mathurin |
| Research Dialogue SeriesDialogue series gathering researchers to discuss strategies and outcomes in employment and migrant integration. | Event | 2025-09-24 | Toronto Metropolitan University TMU |
| Research Dialogue Series Ongoing series for discussing strategies in employment integration among immigrant populations. | Event | 2025-10-15 | Toronto Metropolitan University TMU |
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